Reposted by Pete Sofley
We have now updated the blog with the November update for #PWC2025! Check it out to see where participants are in their mini-leagues at a crucial time of the year and read about an exciting month in the Islands mini-league!
patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/nove...
patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/nove...
December 10, 2025 at 7:49 PM
We have now updated the blog with the November update for #PWC2025! Check it out to see where participants are in their mini-leagues at a crucial time of the year and read about an exciting month in the Islands mini-league!
patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/nove...
patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/nove...
Reposted by Pete Sofley
We're freshening up our blog!
It's been a while, and we're looking for a brand new header image. We're hoping for a picture of someone's patch to star at the top of the blog. Our dream photo maintains the clear element (sky or other) at the top for the text, with something in the foreground.
It's been a while, and we're looking for a brand new header image. We're hoping for a picture of someone's patch to star at the top of the blog. Our dream photo maintains the clear element (sky or other) at the top for the text, with something in the foreground.
December 9, 2025 at 8:35 PM
We're freshening up our blog!
It's been a while, and we're looking for a brand new header image. We're hoping for a picture of someone's patch to star at the top of the blog. Our dream photo maintains the clear element (sky or other) at the top for the text, with something in the foreground.
It's been a while, and we're looking for a brand new header image. We're hoping for a picture of someone's patch to star at the top of the blog. Our dream photo maintains the clear element (sky or other) at the top for the text, with something in the foreground.
Nice to find some Grey Partridge hunkering down while surveying in NW Lincs yesterday @lincsbirding.bsky.social
Also female type Merlin chasing Linnets
3 Marsh harriers (f/imm)
Small movement of Golden plover/Lapwing SE/SW #UKBirding
Also female type Merlin chasing Linnets
3 Marsh harriers (f/imm)
Small movement of Golden plover/Lapwing SE/SW #UKBirding
December 9, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Nice to find some Grey Partridge hunkering down while surveying in NW Lincs yesterday @lincsbirding.bsky.social
Also female type Merlin chasing Linnets
3 Marsh harriers (f/imm)
Small movement of Golden plover/Lapwing SE/SW #UKBirding
Also female type Merlin chasing Linnets
3 Marsh harriers (f/imm)
Small movement of Golden plover/Lapwing SE/SW #UKBirding
Surveying in at Heath & Reach in Beds
184 Redwing, 27 Fieldfare, 9 Song Thrush finishing off most of the Sloe berries and onto the Hawthorns. Some excellent areas of scrub.
Also 3 Woodcock flushed when walking through.
Flock of 28 Skylark off unused arable field at dawn #UKBirding
184 Redwing, 27 Fieldfare, 9 Song Thrush finishing off most of the Sloe berries and onto the Hawthorns. Some excellent areas of scrub.
Also 3 Woodcock flushed when walking through.
Flock of 28 Skylark off unused arable field at dawn #UKBirding
December 6, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Surveying in at Heath & Reach in Beds
184 Redwing, 27 Fieldfare, 9 Song Thrush finishing off most of the Sloe berries and onto the Hawthorns. Some excellent areas of scrub.
Also 3 Woodcock flushed when walking through.
Flock of 28 Skylark off unused arable field at dawn #UKBirding
184 Redwing, 27 Fieldfare, 9 Song Thrush finishing off most of the Sloe berries and onto the Hawthorns. Some excellent areas of scrub.
Also 3 Woodcock flushed when walking through.
Flock of 28 Skylark off unused arable field at dawn #UKBirding
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bangalensis off Dawlish Warren this morning. Was speedily succesful catching a good sized fish. Probably the rarest bird I will see in my lifetime.
A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.
A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.
December 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bangalensis off Dawlish Warren this morning. Was speedily succesful catching a good sized fish. Probably the rarest bird I will see in my lifetime.
A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.
A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Some November Otter action at #LadywalkNR. Leaving and entering the reserve. Several records so far this month. @warksmammalgroup.bsky.social @warwickshirewt.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Some November Otter action at #LadywalkNR. Leaving and entering the reserve. Several records so far this month. @warksmammalgroup.bsky.social @warwickshirewt.bsky.social
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...
November 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...
November 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Pete Sofley
We have now pulled together the update for October #PWC2025 and it is live on the blog! Go check it out to see the highlights and where you sit in the rankings! patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com
Remember to keep us updated by regularly updating your scores and by tagging us in your posts!
Remember to keep us updated by regularly updating your scores and by tagging us in your posts!
November 18, 2025 at 12:25 PM
We have now pulled together the update for October #PWC2025 and it is live on the blog! Go check it out to see the highlights and where you sit in the rankings! patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com
Remember to keep us updated by regularly updating your scores and by tagging us in your posts!
Remember to keep us updated by regularly updating your scores and by tagging us in your posts!
Main pool #LadywalkNR now full with waterfowl and the new works on bund/channels and scrapes working well in holding water in reedbed.
Marsh harrier(imm/f) hunting over reserve and flushed 20+ Snipe off Whitacre Heath.
300+ Teal,200+ Wigeon,3 Pintail and Green Sandpiper.
LSW + Sibe Chiff
Marsh harrier(imm/f) hunting over reserve and flushed 20+ Snipe off Whitacre Heath.
300+ Teal,200+ Wigeon,3 Pintail and Green Sandpiper.
LSW + Sibe Chiff
November 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Main pool #LadywalkNR now full with waterfowl and the new works on bund/channels and scrapes working well in holding water in reedbed.
Marsh harrier(imm/f) hunting over reserve and flushed 20+ Snipe off Whitacre Heath.
300+ Teal,200+ Wigeon,3 Pintail and Green Sandpiper.
LSW + Sibe Chiff
Marsh harrier(imm/f) hunting over reserve and flushed 20+ Snipe off Whitacre Heath.
300+ Teal,200+ Wigeon,3 Pintail and Green Sandpiper.
LSW + Sibe Chiff
November 17, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Dusk yesterday #LadywalkNR water levels up after the lowest/longest low levels ever!
Waterfowl/waders back in and
2 Woodcock flushed off paths.
Water rails back in reedbeds.
A way to go to filling up,hopefully after today’s downpour should be full again tomorrow! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
Waterfowl/waders back in and
2 Woodcock flushed off paths.
Water rails back in reedbeds.
A way to go to filling up,hopefully after today’s downpour should be full again tomorrow! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Dusk yesterday #LadywalkNR water levels up after the lowest/longest low levels ever!
Waterfowl/waders back in and
2 Woodcock flushed off paths.
Water rails back in reedbeds.
A way to go to filling up,hopefully after today’s downpour should be full again tomorrow! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
Waterfowl/waders back in and
2 Woodcock flushed off paths.
Water rails back in reedbeds.
A way to go to filling up,hopefully after today’s downpour should be full again tomorrow! @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Proof lightning does strike twice. @beidaihebirder.bsky.social found the second Dusky Warbler at Aylestone Meadows, 100m from the site of the Christmas Eve 2021 bird. Proved patchworking works. #vc55birds #ukbirding
November 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Proof lightning does strike twice. @beidaihebirder.bsky.social found the second Dusky Warbler at Aylestone Meadows, 100m from the site of the Christmas Eve 2021 bird. Proved patchworking works. #vc55birds #ukbirding
Reposted by Pete Sofley
We have added two new pages to our website: habitat management principles for butterflies (and other pollinators) and causes of decline. Check them out here www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
Habitat Management for Butterflies
Habitat Management for Butterflies
www.bc-europe.eu
November 3, 2025 at 4:37 PM
We have added two new pages to our website: habitat management principles for butterflies (and other pollinators) and causes of decline. Check them out here www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
Brambling dropped into Woods between woodyard and Hide A feeders late am. @ladywalknr.bsky.social #LadywalkNR
Red Kite over > S
200+ Starling through >S in small groups 20-30 birds late am.
Set up some small mammal footprint traps with kids.
In the week 2-3 Crossbill over woodyard+ 100c Redpoll.
Red Kite over > S
200+ Starling through >S in small groups 20-30 birds late am.
Set up some small mammal footprint traps with kids.
In the week 2-3 Crossbill over woodyard+ 100c Redpoll.
November 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Brambling dropped into Woods between woodyard and Hide A feeders late am. @ladywalknr.bsky.social #LadywalkNR
Red Kite over > S
200+ Starling through >S in small groups 20-30 birds late am.
Set up some small mammal footprint traps with kids.
In the week 2-3 Crossbill over woodyard+ 100c Redpoll.
Red Kite over > S
200+ Starling through >S in small groups 20-30 birds late am.
Set up some small mammal footprint traps with kids.
In the week 2-3 Crossbill over woodyard+ 100c Redpoll.
Reposted by Pete Sofley
De-silting vs Dredging.
They're not the same thing!
Isolating a section of river to remove excesss fine silt and restore natural channel dimensions and habitat. #river #restoration #ChalkStream #conservation
They're not the same thing!
Isolating a section of river to remove excesss fine silt and restore natural channel dimensions and habitat. #river #restoration #ChalkStream #conservation
November 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM
De-silting vs Dredging.
They're not the same thing!
Isolating a section of river to remove excesss fine silt and restore natural channel dimensions and habitat. #river #restoration #ChalkStream #conservation
They're not the same thing!
Isolating a section of river to remove excesss fine silt and restore natural channel dimensions and habitat. #river #restoration #ChalkStream #conservation
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Lapwing eggs only rarely taken by badgers, new data shows
Badgers are often blamed when wader nests fail on British farmland, but new evidence suggests their role may be far smaller than assumed and is largely driven by prolonged cold weather. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/B...
Badgers are often blamed when wader nests fail on British farmland, but new evidence suggests their role may be far smaller than assumed and is largely driven by prolonged cold weather. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/B...
Badger Predation on Lapwing Nests Is Rare, six-year study finds
Badgers are often blamed when wader nests fail on British farmland, but new evidence suggests their role may be far smaller than assumed
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Lapwing eggs only rarely taken by badgers, new data shows
Badgers are often blamed when wader nests fail on British farmland, but new evidence suggests their role may be far smaller than assumed and is largely driven by prolonged cold weather. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/B...
Badgers are often blamed when wader nests fail on British farmland, but new evidence suggests their role may be far smaller than assumed and is largely driven by prolonged cold weather. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/B...
Survey in North/West Lincs
6 Whooper out of low cloud after heavy rain heading106 Pink-feet 200+ Golden plover >N
1 GWE >N
2 Marsh harrier (f/imm)
457 Linnet ( one partial albino) and a Meadow pipit with only one eye!
@lincsbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
6 Whooper out of low cloud after heavy rain heading
1 GWE >N
2 Marsh harrier (f/imm)
457 Linnet ( one partial albino) and a Meadow pipit with only one eye!
@lincsbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
October 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Survey in North/West Lincs
6 Whooper out of low cloud after heavy rain heading106 Pink-feet 200+ Golden plover >N
1 GWE >N
2 Marsh harrier (f/imm)
457 Linnet ( one partial albino) and a Meadow pipit with only one eye!
@lincsbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
6 Whooper out of low cloud after heavy rain heading
1 GWE >N
2 Marsh harrier (f/imm)
457 Linnet ( one partial albino) and a Meadow pipit with only one eye!
@lincsbirding.bsky.social #UKBirding
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Hello, we have been working hard all year to keep this challenge running and would love to hear your feedback!
Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a think ready for PWC 2026.
#pwc2025#patchbirding
Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a think ready for PWC 2026.
#pwc2025#patchbirding
Patchwork Challenge Feedback
Hello, we have been working hard all year to keep this challenge running and would love to hear your feedback. Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a...
docs.google.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Hello, we have been working hard all year to keep this challenge running and would love to hear your feedback!
Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a think ready for PWC 2026.
#pwc2025#patchbirding
Let us know of anything that we can do to make the challenge even better so we can have a think ready for PWC 2026.
#pwc2025#patchbirding
Reposted by Pete Sofley
Wow! It was looking like a poor year for Yellow-browed Warbler but that has changed in the last week with reports well above average for the time of year. Still some way to go beat the all time record week in Oct 2016, when it appeared on 8.5% of all complete lists
Photo: Moss Taylor/BTO
#ukbirding
Photo: Moss Taylor/BTO
#ukbirding
October 21, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Wow! It was looking like a poor year for Yellow-browed Warbler but that has changed in the last week with reports well above average for the time of year. Still some way to go beat the all time record week in Oct 2016, when it appeared on 8.5% of all complete lists
Photo: Moss Taylor/BTO
#ukbirding
Photo: Moss Taylor/BTO
#ukbirding
Yellow-browed Warbler in scrubby Willows between public footpath that runs along #LadywalkNR footpath.
YBW only once over 3 hours on footpath + half day on site checking tit flocks.
Green sand on B
5 GWE on Main +18 Wigeon
Passage of Skylark (30+) again up till midday @patchbirding.bsky.social
YBW only once over 3 hours on footpath + half day on site checking tit flocks.
Green sand on B
5 GWE on Main +18 Wigeon
Passage of Skylark (30+) again up till midday @patchbirding.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Yellow-browed Warbler in scrubby Willows between public footpath that runs along #LadywalkNR footpath.
YBW only once over 3 hours on footpath + half day on site checking tit flocks.
Green sand on B
5 GWE on Main +18 Wigeon
Passage of Skylark (30+) again up till midday @patchbirding.bsky.social
YBW only once over 3 hours on footpath + half day on site checking tit flocks.
Green sand on B
5 GWE on Main +18 Wigeon
Passage of Skylark (30+) again up till midday @patchbirding.bsky.social
Murky morning surveying on Lincs wolds
2 flighty but vocal Ring Ouzel
53 Fieldfare,10 Redwing,3 Song Thrush
652 Starling,90 Skylark,47 M Pipit,18 Siskin,22 Greenfinch,34 Linnet,21 Yellowhammer,4 Reed bunting.
536 Pink-feet >SE
1995 Common gull+ 2 Med gull
(Ad/1st W) @lincsbirding.bsky.social
2 flighty but vocal Ring Ouzel
53 Fieldfare,10 Redwing,3 Song Thrush
652 Starling,90 Skylark,47 M Pipit,18 Siskin,22 Greenfinch,34 Linnet,21 Yellowhammer,4 Reed bunting.
536 Pink-feet >SE
1995 Common gull+ 2 Med gull
(Ad/1st W) @lincsbirding.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Murky morning surveying on Lincs wolds
2 flighty but vocal Ring Ouzel
53 Fieldfare,10 Redwing,3 Song Thrush
652 Starling,90 Skylark,47 M Pipit,18 Siskin,22 Greenfinch,34 Linnet,21 Yellowhammer,4 Reed bunting.
536 Pink-feet >SE
1995 Common gull+ 2 Med gull
(Ad/1st W) @lincsbirding.bsky.social
2 flighty but vocal Ring Ouzel
53 Fieldfare,10 Redwing,3 Song Thrush
652 Starling,90 Skylark,47 M Pipit,18 Siskin,22 Greenfinch,34 Linnet,21 Yellowhammer,4 Reed bunting.
536 Pink-feet >SE
1995 Common gull+ 2 Med gull
(Ad/1st W) @lincsbirding.bsky.social
Reposted by Pete Sofley
The September #PWC2025 review is now out on the blog!
There has been plenty to write about! So take a look at where you finished by the end of September, plus what others saw and found on their patches: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com #patchbirding
There has been plenty to write about! So take a look at where you finished by the end of September, plus what others saw and found on their patches: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com #patchbirding
Patchwork Challenge
patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The September #PWC2025 review is now out on the blog!
There has been plenty to write about! So take a look at where you finished by the end of September, plus what others saw and found on their patches: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com #patchbirding
There has been plenty to write about! So take a look at where you finished by the end of September, plus what others saw and found on their patches: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com #patchbirding
Is this two different stages of Honey fungus on old Birch stump?
Woodyard at #LadywalkNR #fungus
@westmidsfungi.bsky.social
Woodyard at #LadywalkNR #fungus
@westmidsfungi.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Is this two different stages of Honey fungus on old Birch stump?
Woodyard at #LadywalkNR #fungus
@westmidsfungi.bsky.social
Woodyard at #LadywalkNR #fungus
@westmidsfungi.bsky.social
Juv/female Scaup still at Shustoke res opposite sailing club. Nice addition to #PWC2025 also 2+ Rock pipit on West shore #Warksbirds
October 16, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Juv/female Scaup still at Shustoke res opposite sailing club. Nice addition to #PWC2025 also 2+ Rock pipit on West shore #Warksbirds